Re: Do bees have a color preference?

Tough question. And since you are working on a science project, I am going to suggest that you conduct some experiments first to see if you can answer your own question rather than having me do it for you. But, I will get you started with some information about honey bees' vision.

First, honey bees don't see light in the same way that we do. They use wavelengths 300 to 650 nm, whereas humans see wavelengths between 400 and 800 nm. We are able to distinguish three primary colors: blue, yellow and red; and various combinations of these hues to produce green, orange and violet. Bees also have three primary colors: ultraviolet, blue and yellow, and can distinguish well between the various combinations of hues.

As far as bees having a preference, I think there are other factors that influence whether a bee is attracted to an object, so be careful in how you design your experiments. Matilda Hertz did some experiments training bees to recognize different patterns (you should probably research her conclusions) and others have determined that bees prefer complex floral patterns and movements.

Last, here are some good references and links to check out:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Beekeeping, Roger Morse and Ted Hooper
Bees: Their Vision, Chemical Senses, and Language, Karl von Frisch
World through the eyes of a honey bee
Honey bee vision

Good luck with your experiments and I hope this information is helpful. ;)

Kieran